Jason Shampoo Review

Jason Apricot Shampoo

After the disappointment with the Home-made Coconut Milk Shampoo, I would like to suggest you a product that definitely works and that, compared to other brands, isn't so expensive.
Jason Apricot Shampoo does what it says on the tin and delivers shiny, scented hair in a natural way. Keep an eye on this website www.naturisimo.com (I suggest you you subscribe to it to receive notifications about their special offers) as they often have very good sales on and the delivery is free worldwide.
Personally I have found the apricot one working well especially on my children's hair, but Jason offers other two alternatives, the Jojoba Shampoo, designed to repair damage caused by blow drying, perming and the sun and encourage healthy hair growth, and the Aloe Vera Shampoo, nourishing and moisturising, reduces the formation of split ends and increases volume and manageability.

DIY Coconut Milk Shampoo tried and tested. Does it work?

So here I am again. As promised I have made the Coconut Milk Shampoo and I am ready to tell you what I think of it.

Here you can find a little reminder of the recipe.

In a bowl, I mixed 1/2 cup Coconut Milk and 2/3 cup of Castile Soap (VERY expensive!!! Nearly €9 for 275ml bottle!!!)

Then I added the 2 tsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and 20 drops of essential Oils 

(I used Neroli and Tea Tree)

With the help of a funnel I have transferred the mixture into 2 old 300ml shampoo bottles

I have managed to fill up one and a half bottles, So I suppose the cost of each bottle would come just under 3 euro. Still at least 2 euro less expensive than a shop bought organic shampoo.
Now, was it worth the hassle?
My hair was very oily as I just had a lovely back and head massage that morning, so was the shampoo able to remove the oil from my hair? The answer is

NO

If possible my hair was oilier than it was before washing it. I couldn't even brush it it was so thick and greasy, as if I had washed it with styling gel instead. So I rinsed it again. But it didn't get any better. I ended up tying it in a pony tail for the rest of the day and wash it again (with Tresemme' shampoo) in the shower the same evening.

Total fail.

A real shame.

Home Made Coconut Shampoo

When you buy shampoo for yourself and your little ones you might want to take less notice of the claims in their TV ads but rather be very aware of their content instead.

This is a list of the ingredients you should avoid at all times.

Sodium-Lauryl-Sulfate
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Ammonium Chloride
Propylene-Glycol
Perfume - label often used as a catch-all on ingredient labels for many different chemicals.

For instance, listen to what I have found out about one of the shampoo brands I have used the most, Garnier Fructis.

Apparently the brand sells and markets shampoos in which only 9 out of 22 ingredients have been assessed for safe use. To make matters worse, in one type of Garnier Fructis shampoo, six ingredients were labelled “health concerns” and three were labelled “violations, restrictions, and warnings.” Read more about Garnier’s products here.

Source thegreenlifeonline.org

This is why I have decided to give this recipe a go. I will let you know what I think of it in a couple of weeks. 

HOME MADE COCONUT SHAMPOO

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup coconut milk
2/3 cup castile soap
30 drops essential oil of your choice
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all the ingredients in an empty shampoo bottle or jar and shake.
You can keep it in the shower for one to two months. Shake well before each use.

Recipe from one good thing by Jillie

Home Made Liquid Soap/Body Wash

Today I'm back with this easy recipe I use quite regularly to make my own hand made soap/body wash.
This is quite inexpensive to make and, although it wont be as foamy as the shop bough ones, it will make your skin feel so moist and soft that you will immediately fall in love with it.
It can easily be made from leftover soap bars, although I would strongly recommend to use only the most natural soap, such as pure Castile Soap, if you intend to use it to bath babies or people suffering with skin conditions.
Remember for instance, that in case of eczema it is always better to avoid aggressive soap, and that even water can make the condition worse. The goal here is to avoid every ingredient that can cause the skin to react or release histamine.
This soap is very gentle as the soap component is very diluted and it is enriched with coconut oil, which is not only extremely emollient and moisturising, but also has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties.

Home made soap/body wash

Ingredients

2 bags of camomile herbal tea
1 c. distilled water
1 Tsp Vit E oil (antibacterial)
2 Tbs coconut oil
1 Tbsp honey
1-1/2 c. liquid castile soap (or same quantity of grated soap bar)
1 tsp guar gum (you can easily find it at The Health Store)
30 drops essential oils (your preference - I used a blend of lavender, chamomile, and lemon-grass)*

Boil water and pour over the camomile herbal tea bags. Let sit for an hour, then remove the tea bags.

In a bowl whisk your oil, honey, infusion, and Vit E together.

Sprinkle in the guar gum, whisking to combine, and then immediately afterwards whisk in the Castile soap (if you wait too long the guar gum will thicken and you’ll have clumps) until blended and smooth.

Drop in your essential oils and gently stir with a spoon. Store the mixture in a sterilised bottle out of direct sunlight and shake before each use.

*Always avoid essential oils for children under 3 years of age, or consult a qualified aromatherapist to ask for advice.

DIY Sudocrem (Nappy Rash Cream)

Today I want to share with you this WONDERFUL recipe for Home Made Nappy Rash Cream that is completely natural and works just as well as our well known Sudocrem, without all the toxic chemicals that could be harsh on the babies' skin. Actually, after checking the toxicity of Sudocrem ingredients I was quite shocked. You can check the toxicity of all the ingredients in your favourite skincare products here.
And what's even better is that the home made version  can be used with cloth nappies and is also way cheaper than the shop bought one. Happy days!

Just compare the ingredients in the two versions.

Sudocrem - Healing Cream
Zinc oxide
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl Benzoate
Benzyl Cinnamate
Lanolin

Home Made Nappy Rash Cream

Organic, raw unrefined Shea Butter

Organic, raw Coconut Oil
Beeswax
Zinc Powder
Aloe Vera Gel

No comparison, right?? 

Moreover, just like Sudocrem, this cream will work wonders for many skin problems, such as:

1. Napkin rash
2. Eczema
3. Bedsores
4. Acne
5. Minor burns
6. Surface wounds
7. Sunburn
8. Chilblains

HOME MADE NATURAL NAPPY RASH CREAM RECIPE

from  My Merry Messy Life

This blog also has this pretty free printable to download so you can label the jar. I love it!!!
Hopefully you'll love it too.
Enjoy!

DIY Natural Vaseline and Vapor-Rub

Today I am sharing this easy yet so wonderful recipe and try to raise awareness about the toxicity of Petroleum Jelly, or Vaseline, as we call it.
Here is an interesting read to understand what Vaseline is and what effect it has on your skin.

Harmful Effects of Mineral Oil & Petroleum Jelly

By Amy Jensen, eHow Contributor

Petroleum jelly and mineral oil are petroleum-based products, the same substance gasoline is made from. Such products can be harmful to your body, because it cannot eliminate the substance quickly. Petroleum products are constantly being scrutinized and studied.

Mineral oil and petroleum jelly, which are widely used in cosmetics, are made from petroleum, a crude oil substance that comes from the ground yet can be very toxic. Different refining processes transform petroleum into paraffin wax, greases, and plastics. The Vaseline company describes its petroleum jelly product as "a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin and micro crystalline waxes that ... literally melts into skin, flowing into the spaces between cells and the gaps in our lipid barrier. Once there, it re-solidifies, locking itself in place."

Effects
Since petroleum jelly and mineral oil (its liquid equivalent) attach to your cells and are not water soluble, they can be difficult for your body to eliminate, sometimes causing build-up in various organs of the body. The oxygen and nutrients skin needs in order to release toxins and repair itself can be blocked by the "barrier" created by petroleum cosmetics. Petroleum substances can also be listed as "petrolatum" on ingredient labels. Petroleum is not considered safe for ingestion or internal use in large amounts, yet is the base of many lip balms.

Read more: Harmful Effects of Mineral Oil & Petroleum Jelly | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6788183_harmful-mineral-oil-petroleum-jelly.html#ixzz2Qkr73J00

Sometimes i feel discouraged by all the worrying information I get to know about many products I love, but this time it's different, as Vaseline is so easy to replace with this fabulous home made version, and once you try it, you'll never go back to the shop bought one again. It is so soft, so nourishing and moisturising, and you can add to it some vanilla essential oil to make it smell yummy too!

Enjoy!

Homemade Natural Vaseline

Ingredients:

30 gr beeswax (a little more if you want it softer)
120 ml olive oil

Directions:

Mix the ingredients together in a saucepan and heat on a very low heat until the beeswax has melted.

While it's warm, pour into a little jar.

You can simply transform this recipe to make your Natural Vapor-Rub.
Just add

20 drops of Eucalyptus Oil
20 drops Peppermint Oil
10 drops Rosemary Oil

to the mixture before pouring into the jar.

Lavera Basis Sensitive Deodorant Review

Buy it here

Description
Lavera Basis Sensitive Deodorant Roll On with organic calendula and organic aloe vera offers a mild and skin protecting formula that is ideal for people with extemely sensitive skin. Organic Aloe Vera Gel and Organic Witch Hazel gives a lasting freshness all day long. Free from Alcohol and Aluminium.


Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Zinc Oxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Zinc Ricinoleate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water*, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance (Parfum)**, Limonene**, Linalool**, Geraniol**, Citral**, Citronellol**, Benzyl Benzoate**.


* ingredients from certified organic agriculture
** natural essential oils

My opinion

I have been using this deodorant for months now and, although being a bit sceptical at the beginning, I grew to love it. You've got to get over the high expectations and promises of the chemical deodorants, and realise that it is not antiperspirant (antiperspirant deodorants are in fact very harmful on a glandular level) and its effect does not last for days. you might have to reapply it during a particular warm day or in case you are doing physical activity. However this is a small price to pay if you care about your health and its fresh and citrusy scent keeps me fresh all day under normal circumstances. It is so delicate on the skin that I can use it straight after shaving. 

I would highly recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a natural alternative.

Have you used this product? Where you satisfied with it? Please share your thoughts with us.